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3110484 
Journal Article 
Feather corticosterone content in predatory birds in relation to body condition and hepatic metal concentration 
Strong, RJ; Pereira, MG; Shore, RF; Henrys, PA; Pottinger, T 
2015 
Yes 
General and Comparative Endrocrinology
ISSN: 0016-6480
EISSN: 1095-6840 
214 
47-55 
English 
25776461 
WOS:000353844300007 
This study investigated the feasibility of measuring corticosterone in feathers from cryo-archived raptor specimens, in order to provide a retrospective assessment of the activity of the stress axis in relation to contaminant burden. Feather samples were taken from sparrowhawk Accipiter nisus, kestrel Falco tinnunculus, buzzard Buteo buteo, barn owl Tyto alba, and tawny owl Strix aluco and the variation in feather CURT concentrations with respect to species, age, sex, feather position, and body condition was assessed. In sparrowhawks only, variation in feather CURT content was compared with hepatic metal concentrations. For individuals, CURT concentration (pg mm(-1)) in adjacent primary flight feathers (P5 and P6), and left and right wing primaries (P5), was statistically indistinguishable. The lowest concentrations of CURT were found in sparrowhawk feathers and CURT concentrations did not vary systematically with age or sex for any species. Significant relationships between feather CURT content and condition were observed in only tawny owl and kestrel. In sparrowhawks, feather CURT concentration was found to be positively related to the hepatic concentrations of five metals (Cd, Mn, Co, Cu, Mo) and the metalloid As. There was also a negative relationship between measures of condition and total hepatic metal concentration in males. The results suggest that some factors affecting CURT uptake by feathers remain to be resolved but feather CURT content from archived specimens has the potential to provide a simple effects biomarker for exposure to environmental contaminants. (C) 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. 
Corticosterone; Feather; Raptor; Metal